Exide ordered to test soil near Calif. plant

NEW YORK  California state officials have ordered troubled battery maker Exide Technologies Inc. to begin testing dust and soil in the area surrounding its Vernon, Calif., recycling plant to discover whether nearby communities have been exposed to dangerous levels of lead contamination.

The testing comes about four months after the state closed the Vernon plant after an analysis showed that arsenic emissions were posing an elevated risk of cancer to roughly 110,000 residents in nearby cities (amm.com, April 25). A judge later allowed the plant to reopen pending a full hearing in the fall (amm.com, June 18).

Officials from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control said dust sampling is due to begin Aug. 29, and soil sampling by Oct. 1 while findings are due by Nov. 15, according to local news reports.